In brief:

• Australian women are more likely than men to live with asthma and die from the condition.
• Most people are unaware of the connection between women’s hormones and asthma and hay fever.
• Canberra’s high pollen levels can make symptoms harder to control.
• Now is the perfect time for Canberrans to review their asthma or hay fever action plan.

The ACT has the highest reported rate of hay fever in Australia and an above-average rate of asthma.

With Canberra's spring pollen season approaching, now is a good time to review your asthma or hay fever action plan, particularly if you are a woman.

Around one in three ACT residents report having hay fever, while 11.5% of people have asthma. For women, the risks can be even higher.

Hay fever and asthma can affect people of any age. However, teenage and adult women are more likely than men to live with these conditions.

Women are also more likely to be admitted to hospital because of asthma.

Why are women more affected?

Many women notice changes in their asthma or hay fever symptoms throughout their lives. Some women may even develop symptoms for the first time as adults. But not everyone knows hormones can play a role.

Changes in hormones can affect how the body reacts to allergens. This can happen during:

• puberty
• menstrual cycles
• pregnancy
• perimenopause
• menopause.

Women are also about twice as likely to die from asthma as men, making it important to recognise symptoms early and seek care.

What about transgender people?

Most research has focused on women. However, emerging evidence suggests hormones may also affect asthma symptoms in transgender people who use oestrogen for gender-affirming hormone treatment.

Understanding the link between hormones and asthma may help people recognise changes in their symptoms and seek support sooner.

The Canberra situation

The ACT's pollen season typically runs from September to December, with grass pollen levels often peaking in November.

Canberra's climate and surrounding grasslands contribute to significant seasonal pollen levels, making spring a challenging time for many people with asthma and hay fever.

In the ACT:

• 11.5% of people have asthma
• 29% of residents report having hay fever.

For Canberra women, high pollen levels combined with hormonal changes can make asthma or hay fever symptoms harder to control.

Could it be asthma?

Some people have asthma without knowing it. Symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath are sometimes mistaken for hay fever.

If you have any of these symptoms, don't ignore them. Speak with your GP.

Small actions can make a big difference

Managing asthma well can improve your quality of life.

It is important to have an up-to-date asthma or hay fever action plan. Your plan should explain how to manage symptoms when you’re well, recognise changes and respond if symptoms worsen.

With Canberra's spring pollen season almost here, now is a good time to:

• Do a check-in on your symptoms and management ahead of your GP appointment
• review your asthma or hay fever action plan
• check that your medicines are up to date
• be confident about when and how to use your medicines
• check pollen forecasts
• talk to your GP if your symptoms have changed.

Preparing early can help reduce the impact of asthma and hay fever during spring.

Find out more

Find advice on managing asthma, hay fever and pollen exposure this spring on the ACT Government website.

Residents can check daily pollen forecasts through the Canberra Pollen Forecast service or the AirRater app.

Speak with your GP if your symptoms change.

Learn more about Asthma Australia’s She Needs to Breathe campaign and help raise awareness of the link between women's hormones and asthma.

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